Jackson pleased with abortion law decision

Rep. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe said Monday she's excited about a federal judge's decision granting a temporary restraining order on the abortion law she authored.

On Sunday, a federal judge partially blocked the state from enforcing a new law that went into effect Monday requiring doctors who perform abortions to get admitting privileges from nearby hospitals.

"It's what Louisiana always intended to do," she said. "If you apply for admitting privileges after the law was passed, it's fair to allow them time to complete the process."

But the order only affects doctors who have already applied for admitting privileges.

"The law went into effect (Monday) for all other doctors who were not plaintiffs," Jackson said Monday. "I've seen a lot of erroneous reports, but the judge's decision does not delay the law."

Judge John deGravelles agreed with doctors at three abortion clinics who claimed that even though they have tried to comply with the law, there was not enough time to complete the application process between when Gov. Bobby Jindal signed it into law and the Sept. 1 implementation date.

Outlining the law

The new law says any doctor who performs abortions without having admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of his office is subject to a fine of $4,000 per instance and could lose their medical license.

"So far, the judge has not ruled on the merits of the law," Jackson said. A hearing date has not been determined to rule on the constitutionality of the law.

American Civil Liberties Union member Charles Kincade said he believes that ultimately the law will be stricken.

"In reaching its decision, the court points out that a women's right to choose has been well-settled constitutional law for over 40 years," he said.

Kincade said he sees the law as a thinly veiled attempt to restrict women's rights.

"One of the bill's sponsors, Frank Hoffmann, conceded publicly that the sole intent of the bill was to restrict a woman's right to exercise their constitutional and legal right to choice," Kincade said.

In March, Hoffman spoke in support of a bill that he sponsored that would ultimately prevent abortion providers and affiliates from performing in-services in public schools.

He also said he believes the bill would keep groups like Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast Inc. from distributing brochures and pamphlets promoting their services.

"If Roe v. Wade is ever overturned, we already have a law in place that immediately makes it law you can't do an abortion," Hoffmann said. "But until then, we want to make it as difficult as possible for the people doing that. This bill takes another step in that by not allowing these in-services in schools."

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal signed both Jackson's and Hoffmann's bill into law in June in West Monroe.

"It's an honor to be here today with so many who have fought to uphold our great state's traditions of faith, family and life," Jindal said at the time. "Since I've been governor we've worked every year to pass legislation to protect our families, to protect our children and to protect every unborn child and to protect the safety of our women and families."